NFL 2015 schedule and results: Eagles outlast Cowboys in overtime

Talib appealed the suspension, which was held up on Tuesday.

The league said that Talib “placed his opponent at unnecessary risk of injury.” The suspension will cost him a week of pay, or $351,102.

NFC East gets closer

Colts’ upset keeps them ahead in the AFC South

You wouldn’t have expected a 2-5 Bears team and a 2-6 Chargers team to combine to put together any semblance of an interesting game, but that’s what happened on Monday Night Football. Chicago overcame a rough start to mount a second-half comeback in San Diego, grabbing their first lead with 3:19 left in the game before finishing off Philip Rivers and the Chargers.

The Chargers’ had looked like they’d roll the Bears at home after they jumped out to a quick 13-0 lead, by way of a Danny Woodhead 13-yard touchdown pass from Philip Rivers and a Jason Verrett pick-six of Jay Cutler. But, credit to the Bears, who stopped the bleeding and tightened up on defense. They got themselves back into it with the help of a 1-yard touchdown pass from Cutler to Martellus Bennett mid 2nd quarter, then limited San Diego to a field goal as the half closed out to head into the locker room within striking distance, 16-7.

Lewis went down with a non-contact injury and immediately held his left knee. Trainers came out onto the field to look at him. He eventually got up and walked off the field under his own power, but walked straight to the locker room.

The Patriots announced that Lewis would not return to the game due to the knee injury.

Ware leads the Broncos with 5.5 sacks this season as part of the league’s best pass rushing teams. The Broncos led the league with 29 sacks heading into Week 9.

Losing Ware for any extended period of time would be a significant loss for Denver. Given the recurring nature of the injury, however, it may have to plan how it will go forward without the veteran.

The Carolina Panthers hosted the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Some Packers fans attended the game in Charlotte and some even brought a banner to show their support.

Cam Newton was not a fan of that banner, so he grabbed it and removed it.

Among players in the NFL with 25 receptions or more, Robinson leads the NFL with 17.7 yards per reception while Hurns is second with 17.6. The pair combined for 243 receiving yards in Week 9, which is the most they’ve ever tallied together.

For now, the Jaguars have a passing attack with tremendous promise and potential, but young players who make mistakes too often. For all the great statistics that Robinson and Hurns have combined for, and there’s plenty, the Jaguars are No. 22 in points scored, despite the No. 11 pass offense.

Trailing 27-24 with time running down in the fourth quarter, the Denver Broncos were in a precarious situation. Aqib Talib made it exponentially worse when he drew a personal foul for poking Dwayne Allen in the eye.

Allen and Von Miller got into a confrontation before Talib came running over and stuck his hand right in Allen’s face. There is no doubting the intent there as Talib went straight for the eye with two fingers.

HERO: Sam Bradford wasn’t spectacular against the Cowboys, but he was pretty darn good, and the throw he made to Jordan Matthews for the overtime win was dead on the money. It was certainly one of his best games in an Eagles uniform. Most importantly, he was the best quarterback in the stadium.

CASSEL CRASHING: Matt Cassel actually played reasonably well for the Cowboys, but he was still rough around the edges. One of his touchdown passes was an absolute prayer to Dez Bryant, who was fantastic in his second game back. He also threw a pick-six before and had to get bailed out by a questionable pass interference call on the Cowboys’ game-tying drive before the regulation. Maybe if the Cowboys had gotten possession to open overtime, this headline would be different.

With the Cowboys trailing by seven, the Dallas Cowboys called the “have Matt Cassel sprint around aimlessly for 10 seconds, hurl the ball up, and have Dez Bryant high-point it in a crowd of seven players” play.

It worked. They should call that play more often. This tied the game up at 21, just a possession after Cassel threw a pick-6.

Bill Belichick is one of the most masterful football minds in the history of the sport. He just chooses to keep all that insight to himself and instead offers the media revolutionary tidbits like this.

“It’s always good to run the ball. It’s always good to throw the ball. It’s always good to score points.”

Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams were called out by Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and several players for encouraging dirty play after Sunday’s game. At the center of the uproar was a cheap shot laid on Teddy Bridgewater that knocked the quarterback out of the game with a concussion.

Former NFL safety and current NFL Network commentator Rodney Harrison agreed with the Vikings, saying that cheap shots are “typical of Jeff Fisher type teams.”

The Buccaneers had a semi-decent outing against the Giants this week. Quarterback Jameis Winston continued his strong play, but it his line would have been even better if he had a little more help from Mike Evans, who dropped nearly as many passes as he caught.

Six. He had six drops on the day. That’s the most by a receiver in a single game in 10 years.

The Indianapolis Colts knocked off the previously unbeaten Denver Broncos, 27-24, in what could be a season-changing win after a disappointing start. The Colts, once thought of Super Bowl favorites, can maybe -- maybe -- reignite those dreams.

The Colts’ first half was their best half of football this season. For 29 minute and 47 seconds, they played like the championship contender that many thought they might be before the season began. Then Omar Beldon brought them back to Earth, because nothing can go exactly as planned for the Colts.

Gabbert threw for 185 yards and a couple touchdowns against a weak Falcons secondary, but the game was a close one. Gabbert also had a pair of interceptions, which the Falcons were unable to take advantage of thanks to a strong defensive performance for the 49ers. Gabbert completed 15 of 25 passes.

The Falcons trailed by four points with three minutes to go and faced a 4th and goal from 2 yards out, but head coach Dan Quinn elected for the field goal and the Falcons never got the ball back. The 49ers effectively killed the rest of the clock to take the narrow win.

Alonso was a full participant in team practice this week, participating in all three days. He was listed as probable on the official injury report. The probable designation is supposed to denote a 75 percent chance of playing, and everyone expected he would suit up for the crucial NFC East match.

But Murray hasn’t been good this year. Murray has 88 carries for 307 yards and three touchdowns, a per-carry average of 3.5 yards. Mathews has just 56 carries, but leads the team with 342 yards and there touchdowns, a per-carry average of 6.1 yards, much better than Mathews. Sproles has 120 yards on 31 carries.

Given the groin injury, it’s likely that Mathews won’t see his touches increase, at least not in Sunday’s game against the Cowboys. It will be Murray’s first return to Dallas since leaving the team this offseason and many expect he’ll have a big game. That could cost Mathews his touches, but if he is needed he will be available for the Eagles.

Pat McAfee is probably beating himself up for allowing a touchdown on a punt return with only 13 seconds remaining in the second half against the Denver Broncos, who had not put points up until then.

But during the punt, McAfee wasn’t going to just allow Denver to score. Punter Pat McAfee disappeared and tackling machine McAfee made his appearance once again got a demanding tackle. Unfortunately it wasn’t to the return man.

The Vikings and the Rams went to overtime, tied 18-18. The Vikings won the coin toss ... and then they did something very strange. Although the NFL’s overtime rules are a modified version of sudden death rules that give a major benefit to the team with the ball first, the Vikings opted to kick the ball and play with the wind.

So far as I can tell, this has been attempted twice before. The Lions did it one time, and it backfired miserably. (One Lions fan described it as the most Lions moment ever.) And the Patriots did it in 2013 on a horrible night in Foxboro, and a special teams blunder gave them the win. (Things always work out for Bill Belichick.)

After throwing a 1-yard touchdown near the end of the first quarter, the only first-quarter touchdown given up by the Panthers in 2015, Rodgers couldn’t get the Packers on the board again for the remainder of the first half leading to a 27-7 deficit at halftime.

More than a third of the 117 yards Rodgers tallied on eight first half completions came on a 40-yard heave as time ran out in the second quarter, which proved to be pointless.

Jason Pierre-Paul’s NFL career was considered a question mark at best when news of him damaging his hand in a fireworks accident surfaced over the summer. He returned to the field Sunday wearing a custom-made glove.

Now we’ll have to see how effective the Giants defensive end can be after his accident.

McCoy was having a strong game for the Bills prior to leaving with the injury. He had 16 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown, and also caught two passes for seven yards.

Orakpo’s reaction resulted in two more personal foul calls, both against him.

It should have been a sack for Ndamukong Suh. He had Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor and wouldn’t let go, which should have been called a sack since he had him in his grasp. Taylor got outside the pocket and threw the ball out of bounds, all while Suh was holding onto him.

Suh didn’t get the call, and argued his case to the ref, prompting Dolphins coach Dan Campbell to get him off the field. There was a holding call on the play, after what should have been the sack, and the Bills had to repeat third down.

Culliver suffered a knee injury in Week 4 and hasn’t played since then. Although an MRI revealed no structural damage, Washington held him out through its Week 8 bye. He was listed as questionable on this week’s injury report, although he practiced all week. Culliver also missed Week 2 with a personal conduct suspension.